LG's MWC announcement roundup

by Aloysius Low | 23 February 2012 7:22pm SGT

Instead of saving the goodies for a press conference at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona (MWC), LG has decided to let the news out of the bag since the start of this week. While we do like finding out about the new handsets early (and sharing them with you), we so wanted to be pleasantly surprised. Regardless, here's our roundup of the latest LG smartphones that will be on display at MWC.

LG Optimus 4X HD

(Credit: LG)

The LG Optimus 2X was LG's first dual-core smartphone, so it's only fitting that the company's first quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 handset shares a similar moniker. The Optimus 4X HD may be a mouthful, but it features a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, a 4.7-inch 720p (1,280 x 720 pixels) IPS display as well as a 2,150mAh battery. Best of all, it will come running Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) out-of-the-box.

Where does it stand: It looks like this smartphone will be LG's flagship handset for 2012. While it does have impressive specs, it's likely that other high-end phones announced at the tradeshow will feature similar specs due to the onboard Nvidia Tegra 3 chipset. LG will have to price this handset competitively in order to stand out from the competition.

LG Optimus 3D Max

(Credit: LG)

LG's second-generation 3D handset cuts down on the bulk with a slimmer form factor at just 9.6mm thick while still retaining its 4.3-inch WVGA (800 x 480 pixels) display. Featuring a faster 1.2GHz dual-core processor and NFC support, the Gingerbread-equipped 3D Max will also get an upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich after its launch.

Where does it stand: The original Optimus 3D was an interesting handset, though its bulk may have turned some buyers off. A slimmer, faster version with more content will make this a very attractive prospect. It's a shame about the screen resolution though--qHD (960 x 540 pixels) would have made this a definite buy in our books.

LG Optimus Vu

(Credit: LG)

The 5-inch smartphone/tablet is LG's take on the Samsung Galaxy Note. With a 4.3-inch XGA (1,024 x 768) display (similar to the larger iPad 2), the Optimus Vu packs a speedy 1.5GHz dual-core processor. The Vu manages to pack a 2,080mAh battery into a very thin 8.5mm frame. Sadly, it will run Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) out of the box, but LG has stated that it is already working on the ICS update.

Where does it stand: If the Samsung Galaxy Note is anything to go by, the Optimus Vu is likely do well. This however, depends on whether there are still interested buyers left since the Samsung device got there first. If LG can get ICS running on the Vu before the Galaxy Note does, then the handset should stand a chance.

LG Optimus L3, L5 and L7

(Credit: LG)

Brought to you by the letter L, the Korean chaebol's next three handsets feature a similar design but come in different specifications. Both the L5 and L7 will run Android 4.0, while the budget-friendly L3 will feature Android 2.3. The L5 will sport a 4.0-inch display, while the top tier L7 will come loaded with a 4.3-inch screen. The L3 will have a tiny 3.2-inch panel, which seems reasonable as it's a budget device.

The look of the handsets seem inspired from the Prada phone by LG 3.0, but we do note the middle button on the handset seems inspired from Samsung's smartphone models. Unlike its other handsets, LG has not revealed other specifications about these threee smartphones, though the company has said more details will be available at its booth.

Where does it stand: We're not sure if this is the right strategy to take, as LG already has an impressive lineup of handsets, based on what we know about the 4X HD, the Vu and the Optimus 3D Max. Perhaps the company feels like it needs to cover all its bases, and it could be that this strategy will pay off this year, but we think the company should focus on its key models instead.

LG Optimus LTE Tag

(Credit: LG)

Cousin to the previously announced LG Optimus LTE, the smaller Optimus LTE Tag. Its key feature is the LG Tag+ ability, which uses the smartphone's NFC to communicate with special stickers that can be programmed. We've seen this before with the Sony Xperia S, however. The Optimus LTE Tag does seem to have decent specs--a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 4.3-inch WVGA (800 x 480 pixels) IPS panel and a 5-megapixel camera. While it runs Gingerbread out of the box, LG has promised that the handset will get ICS later.

Where does it stand: The smartphone is likely to only retail in countries which have an LTE network, so this does rule out most of Asia. It still seems like a great midrange handset, but it's likely to be limited to only a few select markets.

About the author

Aloysius Low is a Senior Writer at CNET Asia and covers all things mobile. A former World of Warcraft addict, he now dabbles in social media to stave off the withdrawal symptoms. As a lover of all things furry, he's also the unfortunate slave/minion of two adorable cats.

Aloysius Low, Senior Writer

LG's MWC announcement roundup

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